“Billie Eilish’s Grammy Speech Ignites Controversy with the Tongva Tribe—What Happens Next?”

Billie Eilish caused quite the stir during her Grammy acceptance speech, boldly declaring that “no one is illegal on stolen land” and taking a direct shot at ICE. Her powerful words didn’t go unnoticed, especially by the Tongva tribe, the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles area. They quickly pointed out that Eilish’s home is situated on their ancestral land, and voiced their surprise that she hadn’t reached out to them before making her comments.

While the tribe appreciated Eilish’s attempt to shed light on the importance of land rights and historical context, they highlighted the need for her to acknowledge the true history of the area they share. The Tongva tribe hopes future discussions will specifically reference them, making it clear that the greater Los Angeles basin is Gabrieleno Tongva territory. It’s one thing to make a bold statement on stage, but another to ensure the right people are included in the conversation—perhaps a future collaboration is in order?